“Here we go, here we go, here we go!” - No, not the chant from fans at a football match, but the cries emanating from the two loadmasters of VRC-40 ‘Rawhides’ sat at the rear of our C-2A Greyhound, as they warn us we are just seconds from ‘trapping’ on board the deck of the [...]
USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77), the tenth, and final Nimitz Class nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier for the United States Navy (USN), is currently on its third deployment since entering service in 2009. On it's return from operations with the US Navy 5th and 6th Fleets in the ongoing operation against so-called Islamic State, the ship [...]
Back in 1947, the very first Yeovilton air show took place at its namesake’s Royal Navy Air Station (RNAS) found in Somerset. Now, some 7 decades later and the RNAS Yeovilton International Airday 2017 is one of the most highly anticipated shows of the UK airshow season. With the Airday team renowned for attracting numerous [...]
RAF Fairford was once again the focus for many aviation enthusiasts in recent weeks, with the United States Air Force (USAF) deploying all three Bomber types on the USAF inventory to the Gloucestershire base. As well as supporting a number of multinational exercises being held within the European theatre, namely BALTOPS and Saber Strike, the [...]
On May 5, 2017, the Hellenic Air Force retired its final three RF-4E ‘Recce’ Phantom II aircraft during a ceremony at their home base of Larissa. The retirement brings to an end the use of the ‘Recce’ Phantom in Europe, as final RF-4E Phantom Squadron - 348 MTA – bows out after 64 years of continuous [...]
Found in the north-eastern corner of the Czech Republic near the border with Poland, the small city of Ostrava is the capital of the Moravian-Silesian Region and, since its inception in 2001, been the setting for the annual NATO days show. Duncan Monk reports from Ostrava NATO days 2016. This show has grown from a [...]
RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire has regularly seen United States Air Force (USAF) long-range bombers deployed to support ongoing multinational exercises in Europe, namely BALTOPS (Baltic Operations) and Saber Strike, over the last couple of years. Duncan Monk reports on the 2016 exercise and its participants. Touching down on RAF Fairford’s 3,046m long runway on June [...]
From its initial conception and drawings made in 1957 by Ralph Hooper, the P.1127/P.1154/Kestrel went on to become the well-known and much loved icon of British aviation - the Hawker Siddeley Harrier. The first production Harrier GR1 (XV738) was flown for the first time on December 28, 1967 by Hawker Test Pilot Duncan Simpson OBE [...]
The 31st of March 2016 heralded another sad day in the history of UK military aviation as the iconic dark green Westland Sea King HC4 Commando helicopters, affectionately known as 'Junglies', were retired from active service after nigh on 36 years of providing a heavy lift and troop carrying capability to the Royal Navy and [...]
A few miles from the small town of Pershore in Worcestershire near Birlingham lies a small private collection of vintage jet aircraft. Rescued from the scrap mans axe over 20 years ago by local produce farmer Graham Revill, the aircraft have sat outside and are gradually succumbing to rust and rot with one of the [...]
